Temple Mount: Israel temporarily closes al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem

The Israeli police cleared Al-Aqsa mosque at Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Friday. The police said that after Muslim Friday prayers on Temple Hill, Palestinians had pelteded policemen with stones and fireworks. Several Palestinians would have been entrenched in mosque until police evacuated m. Palestinian media reported that police had forced Muslims to leave Temple Mountain, and Zugangstore closed for several hours.

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According to police, re were 24 arrests. Four police officers were injured, and about 40 Palestinians. Both sides accused each or of initiating violence. The Al-Aqsa mosque is third most important sanctuary for Muslims. Around Temple Mountain, which is also sacred to Jews, clashes occur repeatedly between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. Currently, only Muslims are allowed to pray re; Jews may visit Temple Mountain, but go to Wailing Wall for prayer.

Last summer, violent clashes occurred after Israel had provided access to Temple Mount with metal detectors and new surveillance cameras after a bloody attack at Temple Mountain. After fierce protests, in which four Palestinians were killed and several hundred were injured, Israel had plants dismantled again. In past, visits by Israeli politicians on Temple Hill had also repeatedly triggered violent protests.

New violence at border with Gaza Strip

In Gaza Strip, too, re was anor serious violence: according to Ministry of Health in Gaza, new protests at border with Israel were fatally injured by a 14-year-old and a 43-year-old gunshot. More than 200 more people would have suffered injuries. The Israeli army told m to check reports. Around 7,000 Palestinians would have participated in riots along border. They would have thrown stones at soldiers and set ir tires on fire. Some would have damaged border fence. In addition, fire kites and balloons once again caused several fires in Israeli border area.

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Last week situation had escalated several times, which nourished concern for a new Gaza war. Militant Palestinians fired grenades into Israeli border area and shot at soldiers. A week ago, an Israeli soldier was killed. Israeli attacks in Gaza Strip have since killed seven Palestinians, most of m members of Hamas in Gaza.

Since end of March, more than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers in protests and confrontations according to Ministry of Health in Gaza. Israel has declared that it merely defends its borders. Hamas is using protests as a pretext for attack. The Palestinians have long been calling for an end to Gazablockade of Israel and Egypt, which has been running since 2007. Human rights organisations point to intolerable conditions in coastal area, where around two million people live.

In night of Friday, a 31-year-old Israeli succumbed to his injuries after a knife attack in Adam’s settlement in West Bank. A 17-year-old Palestinian had invaded settlement on Thursday night and stabbed three Israelis with a knife. One of m shot him, shared army. After attack, army blocked entrance to village of Kuba, from which perpetrator came. In raids, re were media reports of confrontations with Palestinian residents.

The Israeli army has moved two or battalions to West Bank in view of security situation. Israel’s defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also announced construction of 400 or residential units in Adam settlement after attack. “The best response to terror is an accelerated settlement of Judea and Samaria (West Bank),” he wrote on Twitter.